Propeller



March ZS, 1939- c. s. RICHARDSON PROPELLER Original Filed Oct. 5, 1954 Patented Mar. 28, 1939 PROPEILE'R Cecil S. Richardson, New York, N. Y., assignor of one-tenth to W. W. Keith, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Substitute for abandoned application Serial No. 747,063, October 5, 1934. This application May 31, 1938, Serial No. 211,014 a 1 Claim.

This application is a substitute for my abandoned application, Ser. No. 747,063, filed October 5, 1934.

The invention relates to a propeller and more especially to spheroidal propellers having helically arranged blades for use in water and air vehicles, or for any purpose where fluid propulsion is required, as for example, in windmills, turbines, agitators or the like.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a propeller of this character, wherein axis vibration is entirely eliminated and a continuity of driving force is had by constant push or pull upon the fluid and in the dividing of the fluid, on the propeller meeting the same, into ribbon formations, and under dispelling of such ribbon formations the fluid returns to a solid stream and thus the reversing action of the propeller maintains the same quality of force as in a forward drive, there being minimum churning of the fluid and cavitation being practically avoided, while the force of the propeller is diagonal to its axis at a forty-five degree angle with little backwash of the fluid.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a propeller of this character, wherein maximum driving power is assured with a minimum of operating energy and least lost motion or a drag eflect during the working of the propeller.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a propeller of this character, wherein the arrangement "of the blades and the formation of the same are novel to assure aperfect action or operation upon fluids for driving purposes.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a propeller of this character, which is comparatively simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and effective in its purposes, strong, durable, devoid of being thrown out of pitch in any of its blades, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a propeller constructedin accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the propeller.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the propeller comprises a hub 5 which, in this instance, is integrally formed with a series of blades 6, these at their peripheries 1 following the surface of a sphere, while such blades are helically disposed from one end of the hub 5 to the other, so that the blades 6, at the ends of said hub, approach the same at approximately a ninety degree angle and have a radial disposition, as at 8, with relation thereto. The blades 6, intermediate of the ends of the hub, present a reverse curvilinear formation, with the major portion of each blade set diagonally to the longitudinal axis of said hub 5 and thus in this diagonal disposition are at approximately a forty-five degree angle set.

These blades 6 throughout their helical disposition are filleted, as at 9, next to the hub 5 and provide therebetween a spiral channel I 0 which is trained about the axis for substantially one-half of the diameter of the said hub and such blades at the ends of the hub 5 merge with each other, as at I I, so that there is a continuity of a reverse curvilinear formation both fore and aft of the propeller. a

The filleted areas 9 between the blades 6 present to opposite faces of such blades unbroken faces and a continuity of curvature both in a transverse and longitudinal direction. By reason of the merger of these blades 6 at opposite ends of the hub there is presented a continuous spiral throughout the longitudinal axis of the propeller.

Due to the filleted areas 9 there is no possibility of alteration or disturbance of the pitch of the blade formation of the propeller and by reason of the continuity of the spiral with the curvilinear surfacing thereof, shaft vibration is practically eliminated and the fluid on contact of the propeller therewith will be divided into ribbon formations and such fluid when leaving the propeller will again merge into a solid stream, there being minimum churning of the fluid and the least backwash, while reverse action of the propeller is the same as the forward action thereof without splash or fluid resistance, the force being diagonally directed to the fluid at a fortyflve degree angle in the working of the propeller, so that a maximum of speed may be attained for driving purposes with a minimum energy or power consumption.

It is, of course, understood that the filleted areas 9 may be varied as to depth according to the requirements of service of the propeller and the blade formations 6 gradually decrease in cross-cut thickness in an outward direction toward their peripheries, so that these blades 6 gradually increase in width toward the hub 5, while the blades in their spiral or helical disposition are further apart at the transverse center of the hub than at the ends of said hub, yet the relationship of the blades with respect to each other being equidistanced one from the other uniformly circumferentially of the propeller.

It is impossible for the fluid to become trapped between the blades, and the division of the fluid into ribbon formations enables a maximum of driving force, so that high speed can be had without excessively increasing the motive force for the operation of said propeller.

What is claimed is:

A propeller of the character described, comprising a hub integrally formed with a series of blades whose outer peripheries follow the surface of a sphere and which blades are disposed helically from one to the other end of the hub so that the blades, at the ends of the hub approach the same at approximately a ninety degree angle and are radially disposed with relation thereto, said blades intermediate of their ends presenting a diagonal or reverse curvilinear formation to the longitudinal axis of the hub and which diagonal disposition arrange the same at approximately a forty-five degree angle, the said helically disposed blades being filleted next to the hub to provide a spiral channel which is trained around the hub for substantially one-half of the diameter of the hub and said blades at the ends of the hub merging with each other.

CECIL S. RICHARDSON. 

